Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital

December 9, 2025

Stephan Heckers to step down after two decades as Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences chair

Heckers is currently VUMC’s longest serving clinical department chair. He credits his longevity to the department’s culture and tradition of steady leadership, with each of the three previous chairs serving for periods of similar length.

By John Howser
November 17, 2025

Award program celebrates improvement work across VUMC

The 2025 QSRP Pursuit of Excellence Awards ceremony was combined with celebration of this year’s honorees of Vanderbilt’s Safety Superhero and Good Catch programs.

By Paul Govern
October 22, 2025

Behind the curtain: Secrets of the volatile, delusional brain 

The VUMC approach, based on the “Feeling Safe Program” developed by British psychologist Daniel Freeman, targets specific factors that contribute to persecutory delusions, including worry, safety behaviors, avoidance and hallucinations (such as hearing voices).

By Bill Snyder
September 30, 2025

DAISY Award spotlight: ‘I can say that Gabe is the most caring and skilled nurse I have ever had.’

Gabe Tiamson, BSN, RN works in the Adult 4 unit at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. He is one of the latest Vanderbilt Health DAISY Award winners.

By Kylie Avery
Patient Sekou Toure works on a painting during a Recovery Art Workshop at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
May 16, 2025

Healing Through Expression: Young Adults’ Journey in Recovery Art Workshop (slideshow)

The class was created by a specialty team that works with young adults who have experienced their first hospitalization or episode of psychosis within the past two years.

By Danny Bonvissuto
Shannon Renegar, a CT technologist, poses for a photo at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital on Monday, April 7, 2025, in Lebanon, Tennessee. (photo by Erin O. Smith)
April 15, 2025

Radiology, CPiAH launch virtual CT technologist training program

The program addresses the enterprise’s growing need for specialized imaging professionals and underscores VUMC’s commitment to high-quality health care education.

By Holly Fletcher
February 10, 2025

DAISY Award spotlight: ‘She made my daughter feel welcomed, safe and cared for.’

Devan Hayes, BSN, RN, PMH-BC, works in the Child and Adolescent Unit at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. She is one of the latest Vanderbilt Health DAISY Award winners.
By Kylie Avery
January 10, 2025

New terminology guide explains VUMC facility names and acronyms

By chance, have you ever traveled from OHO, stopping off at VUH for a meeting before breaking for lunch at the TVC Cafeteria?
December 23, 2024

🎆 2024: a year of stories that made us smile, think and grow

Take a heartwarming walk down the 2024 memory lane. Relive highlights from breakthrough discoveries to patient journeys — and one long flight path.
September 16, 2024

DAISY Award spotlight: ‘She was kind, concerned, and had a genuine compassion for my daughter and me.’

Melanie McAfee, RN works in the Child & Adolescent Unit at Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital. She is one of the latest DAISY Award winners at VUMC.
By Matt Batcheldor
July 10, 2024

As the first face people encounter at Vanderbilt Behavioral Health, Selene Lanier-Henderson promises ‘kindness, a friendly face and a smile.’

“We repeatedly saw her show that same sort of grace and love to everyone who crossed her path. She was a blessing during this very difficult time!”
By Bill Snyder
June 24, 2024

Tanmay Mathur named Vice President for Vanderbilt Psychiatric Hospital

Mathur will play an instrumental role in the development and implementation of long-term strategies, prepare operating and capital expenditure budgets and perform personnel administration functions specific to VPH.
By Danny Bonvissuto
May 3, 2024

Enhanced ‘VUMC News’ website offers new features

The new site is designed to provide easier access to information for members of the VUMC community, and for millions of other visitors to the site each year.
By Holly Fletcher